Turning Back the Pages

30 years ago – September 6, 1985

About 140 marijuana plants were confiscated Saturday morning and one man was arrested for their cultivation by the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Department. Later that morning, the plants, chicken wire fencing that had surrounded them, and irrigation equipment were on display on the courthouse lawn as the evidence was being tagged. Thursday, Sheriff Rosetta Anderle had received a tip that the plants were growing in Golden Gate Ranchettes, a subdivision south of Highway 46 and east of the state park. She gave the case to Deputy Bruce Hartman and Undersheriff David Martinez. At 2:00 a.m. Saturday, Hartman got Gilpin County Judge Andrew J. Krodshen to sign a search warrant to the field. There was no warrant for the closest residence which was about 100 yards away from the marijuana. At 6:30 that morning, Hartman was again back at the scene. He had his camera and was wearing his surveillance outfit. He and Martinez were hoping someone would come along to water the plants. No one did, so about 8:30 a.m. they confiscated the plants. There were 58 plants in soft plastic pots, and about 83 in the ground. They were two to three feet tall and many had buds on them. The street value of the drug was estimated at over $1,000 by the officers. Martinez said there was a “well-worn path” between the field and the nearest house. At the house, Michael Kieran Reid, 26, was arrested and read his Miranda rights, Martinez said. Reid is new to Gilpin County, having come here from California, the undersheriff said. Cultivation of any amount of marijuana, even one plant, is a class four felony, Martinez and Hartman said. Martinez expects to make two more arrests in the case.

Deputy Dan Bartkowiak resigned from the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Department on August 27. The reason for his sudden resignation was not disclosed. Sheriff Rosetta Anderle told County Commissioners, Don Diltz and Leslie Williams, that he had resigned because of “personal problems.” Bartkowiak began working as a reserve officer for the sheriff’s department in 1980. His full time position as deputy began on March 1, 1984. Martinez did verify that Central City Police Officer Jon Bayne has been hired to replace Bartkowiak. The last day Bayne will work for the Central City Police Department will be September 15. He is scheduled to start working for the sheriff’s department the following day, September 16. Central City Police Chief Mike Brewer said that Bayne accepted the position with the sheriff’s department to gain more experience and to advance in the law enforcement field. Bayne began working for the Central City Police Department on April 25. Replacements for Bayne and for Mike McClernan are expected to be announced next week. McClernan resigned his position from the Central City Police Department on August 13.